The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-02-24
;. LIVELY PASSENGER.
How a Traveller and his Alligator Crc"-
ted IL Sensation on Il Train.


The only vacant seat was beside q
bluflooking man in white slouch hat
and the general appearance of q farmer.
"Going far" inquired, by way of
opening a conversation.
"Should say so; goin' to Oskaloosy,
Iowa. Live.thar. Been down inter
FIordy lookin' for chance to invest,
but, Lord love you. faint nothin' down
thar. Had good time, though"
"ies? Saw plenty of native curiosities,
alligators, and so forth, suppose?"
"Should say so. Got one now in that
box down thar; takin i'm home goin'
ter show 'em something will open their
eyes"
glanced rather nervously at the long
wooden box which was lying at my feet
in fact, my feet were resting on it. |
took them oil. There was something
very uncomfortable in the idea of my
extrcmities monkeyiug around a four
foot alligator, and the other passengers
who had heard the remark, evidently
shared my nervousness 1t was known
all over the coach that there was live
alligator aboard, and people began to
whisper to each other and cast threaten.
ing glances toward the farmer in the
slouch hat. He did not appear to notice
them, however, and by and by he got up
aud went out into the smoking car.
nudgcd over toward the window,
pushed the box very ge'lly little nearer
the aisle, puHed out a paper, and had
soon forgotten all about the dangerous
ampLibian.
eliot coffee. Sandw ches! Hot cof-
feew A colored waiter was rushing
through the car with large tray of
refreshments. lie stumbled against the
projecting end Of the box. The hot
coffee flew in about forty directions, a
damp sandwich struck me in the eye.
The top of the box came oft, and in q
moment all was wild Diffusion.
IN excited individual sprang up on
his seat, and shouted. The alligator !!
the alligator is loose "
Others took up the cry. The alarm
became general. The negro was picking
up the fragments of his crockery when he
caught sight of the alligator, which had
tumbed out of the box. He gave one
wild yell, the whites of his eyes became
painfully evident, and he started on a
run down the car, the alligator close at
his heels and apparently gaining at every
jump.
There was reign of terror in that
coach, and don't you forget it. AS for
me, climbed up on the pack of my seat
and made myself as small as possible
1t wasn't M alligator, and | saw no
necessity for personal interference. |
noticed that most of the male passengers
did likewise. Some actually tried to get
up into the hatrack, and y few attempted
to force a passage through The windows.
Every woman present screamed at the
top OF ncr voice. a large majority faint
ed. The stronger minded followed the
example of the gentlemen and roasted
high
When the negro got to the rear of the
car the alligator was right at him. He
was afraid to take time to oIen the door,
so he jumped over the reptile and busted
for the other end. The gator wheeled
about and promptly followed in wild
pursuit. Part of the time he really
appeared not TO touch the floor. As
they peared my place Of observation the
blood thirsty brute seeme'l s,welled with
rage to double its usual size. Streams OF
fire seemed flashing from his eyes, and
there was q look of Gerce determination
about him, Indicating that lie had made
up his mind to lunch Off that colored
man, and meant business.
Directly in front of me tie poor man
stumbled and fell. Fifty people offered
up hasty and involuntary prayer for
his soul, but in falling his heels hit the
alligator, and the animal shot under my
seat. wasn't very much attached to
the seat, anyhow. l moved over to the
back of the next one. My movements
were characterized by haste and uncer.
tanty. had not noticed that woman
occupied the perch wanted. ] lplumbcd
up against her. She screamed. We
both lost our footing and fell to The floor
in al indislinguishsblc mass. The faI
woman landed on top. | have not yei
recovered from the shock. In the mean
time the negro in an insane attempt te
get on top of the waler.copler, had
turned it over. The lat worlan and
received the full benefit of lhc deluge
but the fat woman didn't mind it. She
had fainted. / eXerted al my strength
to rise, but the effort was useless. She
held me down with dead weight.
realized the deadly peril Of my position
My brain reeled, and drop: of perspira
ton trickled from my brow AMI mingled
with the ce.watcr. knew had no
loug to live. Even then could feel the
hot breath Of the Shiny monster on my
cheek.
Then The car stoppc'l. a cool'headet
individual, with rare presence of mind
had pulled the bcll.ropc. In lew mo
ments mad conductor rushed in. Iii
seemed astonished at the general scene
of ruin and confusion, and demanded il
loud voice what in San Hill WAS TIT
matter. Everybody answered at once
They lost no time about it. They an
swcre,l in n thousand different ways, bu
everybody brought in the alligato
somewhere.